Burton Pledges Defiance, Democrat Demands Proof Of Intimidation
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Dan Burton says he won't be stopped by
"friends of the president" he claims are trying to intimidate him
and other Republicans into halting investigations of President
Clinton's campaign-finance activities.
"I can tell you one guy that's not going to be intimidated, and
that's the guy you're looking at," Burton declared Wednesday.
"We're not backing down on this investigation a half-inch, no
matter what they do."
The top Democrat on Burton's investigative panel quickly
challenged him to come up with evidence to support his allegations
at town meetings in Indiana that the White House inspired a
"scandal story" about him in a future edition of the magazine
Vanity Fair and is spreading rumors designed to intimidate him.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said Burton is obligated to produce
proof of his allegations.
"If he has evidence, he ought to come forward with that
evidence," Waxman said. "Otherwise, for him to say that the
administration or the White House is responsible for somebody
looking into his personal life, I think, is absurd. The press ought
to hold him responsible."
The magazine has denied that any such story is scheduled or that
it is working with the White House.
Burton did not offer details Wednesday in Washington, refusing
reporters' requests that he name people who are trying to harm him.
"I think they're trying to send a message through me to all of
my colleagues on Capitol Hill who may feel inclined to really want
to push this issue," said Burton, an Indiana Republican whose
House Government Reform and Oversight Committee is investigating
Clinton's 1996 campaign finances.
"I believe that friends of the president have been involved in
trying to put pressure on anybody who's been looking into the White
House in any aspect regarding the investigation," he added.
It was the second time this week that Burton contended Clinton's
associates and Vanity Fair were looking into his private life. On
Monday, he acknowledged his 38-year marriage had had rocky periods
and apologized to constituents in advance for details that might
appear in the magazine in coming weeks.
For continuous breaking news, see AP Newstream
Associated Press news material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
|
News